Pressure-sensitive adhesive composition for optical films, pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film and image display

ABSTRACT

There is provided a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition for optical films. The composition can form a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer that can prevent light leakage caused by stress associated with dimensional change of a component such as an optical film, that has reworkability such that it can be easily peeled from a component, and that has satisfactory processability such that it can be processed without pressure-sensitive adhesive stain or dropout, after it is formed on an optical film. A pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film produced using the composition is also provided. The pressure-sensitive adhesive composition is prepared to include a (meth)acrylic polymer including (a) 34 to 94% by weight of an alkyl (meth)acrylate monomer unit, (b) 5 to 50% by weight of an aromatic ring-containing (meth)acrylate monomer unit, and (c) 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of an amino group-containing (meth)acrylate monomer unit; 0.01 to 2 parts by weight of a peroxide as a crosslinking agent; and 0.01 to 2 parts by weight of a silane coupling agent based on 100 parts by weight of the (meth)acrylic polymer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition required to have durability and light leakage preventive ability for an optical film and to a pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film including an optical film and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer that is made from the pressure-sensitive adhesive composition on at least one side of the optical film. The invention also relates to an image display such as a liquid crystal display and an organic electroluminescence (EL) display, using the pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film. The optical film may be a polarizing plate, a retardation plate, an optical compensation film, a brightness enhancement film, a laminate thereof, or the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

The image-forming mode of liquid crystal displays or the like essentially requires polarizing elements to be placed on both sides of a liquid crystal cell, and generally polarizing plates are attached thereto. Besides polarizing plates, a variety of optical elements have been used for liquid crystal panels to improve display quality. For example, there are used retardation plates for prevention of discoloration, viewing angle expansion films for improvement of the viewing angle of liquid crystal displays, and brightness enhancement films for enhancement of the contrast of displays. These films are generically called optical films.

When optical members such as the optical films are attached to a liquid crystal cell, pressure-sensitive adhesives are generally used. Bonding between an optical film and a liquid crystal cell or between optical films is generally performed with a pressure-sensitive adhesive in order to reduce optical loss. In such a case, a pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film including an optical film and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer previously formed on one side of the optical film is generally used, because it has some advantages such as no need for a drying process to fix the optical film.

The pressure-sensitive adhesive is required to have some characteristics. In some cases, for example, if in the process of bonding an optical film to a liquid crystal cell, they are misaligned or foreign matter is caught on the bonding surface, the optical film should be separated from the liquid crystal panel so that the liquid crystal cell can be recycled. For this separation process, the pressure-sensitive adhesive should have re-peelability (reworkability) such that the optical film can be easily peeled from the liquid crystal panel with no adhesive residue. Particularly in recent years, thin liquid crystal panels using chemically-etched glass plates are frequently used together with conventional panel manufacturing processes, and it has become difficult to subject optical films from the thin liquid crystal panels to reworking or processing. The pressure-sensitive adhesive is also required to have processability such that it can be processed without causing adhesive stain or dropout after it is formed. In addition, the pressure-sensitive adhesive is required not to cause any defect in durability tests by heating, moistening and so on, which are generally performed as accelerated environmental tests. Also, the pressure-sensitive adhesive is required to prevent light leakage caused by dimensional change generated in the pressure sensitive adhesive layer in the film.

A conventionally proposed method to solve the problems with the reworkability of liquid crystal panels includes adding a plasticizer or an oligomer component to an acrylic polymer used as a base polymer for an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2003-329837). However, such an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive cannot provide satisfactory reworkability or processability for the thin liquid crystal panels.

Other than the above, proposed acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives for optical films include an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive including an acrylic polymer produced using alkyl (meth)acrylate, a monomer having a hydroxyl group in the molecule and a monomer having a functional group such as a carboxyl, amide or amino group in the molecule as monomer components (see JP-A No. 2004-091499 and JP-A No. 2004-091500); an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive including an acrylic polymer produced using alkyl (meth)acrylate, a nitrogen containing monomer such as a imide-group containing monomer and amide-group containing monomer and further containing peroxide and isocianate compound (see JP-A No. 2007-138147); and a pressure-sensitive adhesive including an acrylic polymer produced using aromatic ring-containing monomer (see Japanese Patent Publication of Examined Application No. 62-23287). However, none of these acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives disclosed in the patent literatures can provide satisfactory reworkability or processability, although they can provide improved durability and adhesiveness.

On the other hand, methods of adding a plasticizer or an oligomer to a pressure-sensitive adhesive is also proposed to reduce light leakage from an image display produced with optical films (see Patent Documents 6: Japanese Patent No. 3594206 and 7: Japanese Patent No. 3533589). However, these methods have a problem with workability or durability.

A pressure-sensitive adhesive composition for improvements in durability and reworkability and remediation of light leakage is proposed, which includes a copolymer of an acrylate eater, an aromatic ring-containing monomer, and a hydroxyl group-containing monomer as a base (see Patent Documents 8: JP-A No. 2007-138057 and 9: JP-A No. 2007-138056). However, such a copolymer does not have satisfactory durability, because of its low molecular weight and high degree of dispersion. Such a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition is intended to reduce staining or an adhesive residue during re-peeling, but it is not easily peelable and therefore not practically satisfactory.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2003-329837

Patent Document 2: JP-A No. 2004-091499

Patent Document 3: JP-A No. 2004-091500

Patent Document 4: JP-A 2007-138147

Patent Document 5: Japanese Patent Publication of Examined Application No. 62-23287

Patent Document 6: Japanese Patent No. 3594206

Patent Document 7: Japanese Patent No. 3533589

Patent Document 8: JP-A No. 2007-138057

Patent Document 9: JP-A No. 2007-138056

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the objectives of the invention is to provide a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition for optical films (an optical film pressure-sensitive adhesive composition) capable of forming a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer that can prevent light leakage caused by stress associated with dimensional change of a component such as an optical film, that has reworkability such that an optical film can be easily peeled from a liquid crystal panel with no adhesive residue, and that has satisfactory processability such that it can be processed without pressure-sensitive adhesive stain or dropout, after it is formed on an optical film.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film including a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer made from the optical film pressure-sensitive adhesive composition and to provide an image display including the pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film.

As a result of investigations to solve the problems, the inventors have found the optical film pressure-sensitive adhesive composition described below to complete the invention.

Specifically, the invention is directed to a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition for an optical film (an optical film pressure-sensitive adhesive composition), including: (meth)acrylic polymer including (a) 34 to 94% by weight of an alkyl (meth)acrylate monomer unit, (b) 5 to 50% by weight of an aromatic ring-containing (meth)acrylate monomer unit, and (c) 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of an amino group-containing (meth)acrylate monomer unit; 0.01 to 2 parts by weight of a peroxide as a crosslinking agent based on 100 parts by weight of the (meth)acrylic polymer; and 0.01 to 2 parts by weight of a silane coupling agent based on 100 parts by weight of the (meth)acrylic polymer.

In the optical film pressure-sensitive adhesive composition, the (meth)acrylic polymer preferably has a weight average molecular weight of 1,600,000 to 3,000,000 as determined by gel permeation chromatography.

In the optical film pressure-sensitive adhesive composition, the (meth)acrylic polymer may further includes (d) 0.05 to 2% by weight of a hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate monomer unit and/or (e) 0.05 to 3% by weight of a carboxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate monomer unit.

The optical film pressure-sensitive adhesive composition may further includes 0.01 to 2 parts by weight of an isocyanate crosslinking agent, based on 100 parts by weight of the (meth)acrylic polymer.

In the optical film pressure-sensitive adhesive composition, the (meth)acrylic polymer may have a degree of dispersion (Mw/Mn) of 1 to 10.

In the optical film pressure-sensitive adhesive composition, the amino group-containing (meth)acrylate may be a tertiary amino group-containing (meth)acrylate.

In the optical film pressure-sensitive adhesive composition, the aromatic ring-containing (meth)acrylate is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of phenoxyethyl (meth)acrylate and benzyl (meth)acrylate.

In the optical film pressure-sensitive adhesive composition, the phenoxyethyl (meth)acrylate preferably makes up 5 to 20% by weight of all the monomers constituting the (meth)acrylic polymer.

In the optical film pressure-sensitive adhesive composition, the silane coupling agent preferably has an acetoacetyl group or an amino group.

The invention is also directed to a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer for an optical film (an optical film pressure-sensitive adhesive layer) obtained by forming a coating of any of the above optical film pressure-sensitive adhesive compositions and subjecting the coating to a crosslinking reaction, wherein the coating has a gel fraction of 55 to 95% and a refractive index of less than 1.50 one hour after the formation of the coating.

In the optical film pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, the coating preferably has a gel fraction of 60 to 95% one week after the formation of the coating.

In the optical film pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, the coating preferably has a gel fraction of 40 to 95% by weight after standing at 23° C. and 65% RH for one week and then drying at 90° C. for 120 hours, which may differ by 20% by weight or less from the gel fraction of the coating after standing at 23° C. and 65% RH for one week.

The invention is also directed to a pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film wherein any of the above optical film pressure-sensitive adhesive layers being formed on at least one side of the optical film.

The pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film preferably has a holding power (H) of 20 to 350 μm one week after the coating of the pressure-sensitive adhesive.

The pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film preferably shows an adhesive force (F1) of 1 N/25 mm to 10 N/25 mm, when it is peeled at a peel angle of 90° and a peel rate of 300 mm/minute after the steps of making it 25 mm wide, bonding it to an alkali-free glass plate through the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer by one reciprocation of a 2 kg roller, and allowing it to stand at 23° C. for one hour.

The pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film preferably shows an adhesive force (F2) of 2 N/25 mm to 15 N/25 mm, when it is peeled at a peel angle of 90° and a peel rate of 300 mm/minute after the steps of making it 25 mm wide, bonding it to an alkali-free glass plate through the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer by one reciprocation of a 2 kg roller, and allowing it to stand at 23° C. for one hour and then dried at 60° C. for 48 hours.

The invention is also directed to an image display including at least one piece of any of the above pressure-sensitive adhesive optical films.

The optical film pressure-sensitive adhesive composition of the invention includes, as a base polymer, a (meth)acrylic polymer in which an alkyl (meth)acrylate monomer and an aromatic ring-containing (meth)acrylate are copolymerized in an adequate ratio. This configuration prevents an optical component produced with the optical film pressure-sensitive adhesive composition from light leakage. The optical film pressure-sensitive adhesive composition of the invention also provides improved processability and reworkability and prevents pressure-sensitive adhesive dropout or staining during working processes. The optical film pressure-sensitive adhesive composition of the invention also allows easy peeling with no adhesive residue in the process of peeling optical films from thin liquid crystal panels, especially from liquid crystal panels using chemically-etched glass plates.

The amino group-containing (meth)acrylate monomer unit present in a small amount in the (meth)acrylic polymer can improve the stability of the crosslink in the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer after the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is formed by a crosslinking reaction with the crosslinking agent.

The pressure-sensitive adhesive composition of the invention has improved rapid crosslinkability, because it includes the specific amount of a peroxide as a crosslinking agent. Specifically, in this case, an aging process after coating may also be omitted. In addition, a silane coupling agent is used within the specific range as another crosslinking agent. The pressure-sensitive adhesive composition of the invention provides a high level of crosslink stability, reworkability, and processability. The pressure-sensitive adhesive composition also imparts resistance to damage or rupture to panels or films, when optical components are produced using it and when the produced optical components are used.

The optical film pressure-sensitive adhesive composition of the present invention includes, as a base polymer, a (meth)acrylic polymer including 34 to 94% by weight of (a) an alkyl (meth)acrylate monomer unit, (b) 5 to 50 parts by weight of an aromatic ring-containing (meth)acrylate monomer unit and (c) 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of an amino group-containing (meth)acrylate monomer unit.

A base polymer of such a (meth)acrylic polymer further includes (d) 0.05 to 2% by weight of a hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate monomer unit or (e) 0.05 to 3% by weight of a carboxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate monomer unit, or preferably both of (d) 0.05 to 2% by weight of a hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate monomer unit and (e) 0.05 to 3% by weight of a carboxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate monomer unit.

The optical film pressure-sensitive adhesive composition of the present invention has excellent durability and reworkability due to the existence of hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate monomer unit and/or carboxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate monomer unit. More specifically, such excellent durability and reworkability are due to the acid-base interaction and an act of hydrogen bond in the copolymer components (d) and/or (e). Therefore, the optical film pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of the present invention does not easily generate peeling nor separation even under the condition of high temperature and high humidity.

As used herein, the term “alkyl (meth)acrylate” itself simply refers to a (meth)acrylate having a straight or branched chain alkyl group of 2 to 18 carbon atoms, which is exclusive of any alkyl (meth)acrylate having an aromatic ring or rings in its structure. The alkyl group preferably has an average number of carbon atoms of 2 to 14, more preferably of 3 to 12, still more preferably of 4 to 9. As used herein, the term “(meth)acrylate” refers to acrylate and/or methacrylate, and has the same meaning as “meth” with respect to the invention.

Examples of alkyl (meth)acrylate include ethyl (meth)acrylate, n-butyl (meth)acrylate, sec-butyl (meth)acrylate, tert-butyl (meth)acrylate, isobutyl (meth)acrylate, n-pentyl (meth)acrylate, isopentyl (meth)acrylate, hexyl (meth)acrylate, heptyl (meth)acrylate, isoamyl (meth)acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl (meth)acrylate, n-octyl (meth)acrylate, isooctyl (meth)acrylate, n-nonyl (meth)acrylate, isononyl (meth)acrylate, n-decyl (meth)acrylate, isodecyl (meth)acrylate, n-dodecyl (meth)acrylate, isomyristyl (meth)acrylate, n-tridecyl (meth)acrylate, n-tetradecyl (meth)acrylate, stearyl (meth)acrylate, and isostearyl (meth)acrylate. In particular, n-butyl (meth)acrylate and 2-ethylhexyl (meth)acrylate are preferred, and one or more of these materials may be used alone or in combination.

As used herein, the content of the alkyl (meth)acrylate (a) is from 34 to 94% by weight, preferably from 50 to 90% by weight, more preferably from 70 to 84% by weight, based on the total amount of all the monomer components for the (meth)acrylic polymer. If the content of the (meth)acrylic monomer is too low, the adhesion would be undesirably reduced. The content of the monomer (a) and the content of the aromatic ring-containing (meth)acrylate should be balanced.

As used herein, the term “aromatic ring-containing (meth)acrylate” refers to a copolymerizable (meth)acrylate having an aromatic group or groups in its structure. Examples of the aromatic ring-containing (meth)acrylate (b) include phenyl acrylate, phenoxy (meth)acrylate, phenoxyethyl (meth)acrylate, benzyl (meth)acrylate, phenoxydiethylene glycol (meth)acrylate, ethylene oxide-modified nonylphenol (meth)acrylate, hydroxyethylated β-naphthol acrylate, and biphenyl (meth)acrylate. Examples thereof also include phenol ethylene oxide-modified (meth)acrylate, 2-naphthoethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-naphthoxyethyl acrylate, 2-(4-methoxy-1-naphthoxy)ethyl (meth)acrylate, phenoxypropyl (meth)acrylate, phenoxydiethylene glycol (meth)acrylate, thiol acrylate, pyridyl acrylate, pyrrole acrylate, phenyl acrylate, and polystyryl (meth)acrylate.

As used herein, the content of the aromatic ring-containing (meth)acrylate (b) is from 5 to 50% by weight, preferably from 5 to 35% by weight, more preferably 10 to 30% by weight, and most preferably 15 to 28% by weight, based on the total amount of all the monomer components for the (meth)acrylic polymer. The content of the aromatic ring-containing (meth)acrylate and the content of the alkyl (meth)acrylate should be balanced.

As used herein, examples of the amino group-containing (meth)acrylate (c) include monomers other than tertiary amino group-containing (meth)acrylates, such as succinimide-based monomers such as N-(meth)acryloyloxymethylenesuccinimide, N-(meth)acryloyl-6-oxyhexamethylenesuccinimide, and N-(meth)acryloyl-8-oxyoctamethylenesuccinimide; N-substituted amide monomers such as (meth)acrylamide, N,N-dimethyl(meth)acrylamide, N,N-diethyl(meth)acrylamide, N,N-diethylmethacrylamide, N-isopropyl(meth)acrylamide, N-methylol(meth)acrylamide, N-methoxymethyl(meth)acrylamide, and N-butoxymethyl(meth)acrylamide; secondary amino group-containing monomers such as tert-butylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate; and diacetone(meth)acrylamide, N,N′-methylenebis(meth)acrylamide, N-acryloylmorpholine, N-acryloylpiperidine, N-methacryloylpiperidine, and N-acryloylpyrrolidine. However, tertiary amino group-containing (meth)acrylates are particularly preferred. Monomers having various tertiary amino groups and (meth)acryloyl groups are preferably used. The tertiary amino group is preferably tertiary amino alkyl. The tertiary amino group-containing (meth)acrylate may be N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl(meth)acrylamide or N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl (meth)acrylate. Examples of the tertiary amino group-containing (meth)acrylate include N,N-dimethylaminoethyl(meth)acrylamide, N,N-dimethylaminopropyl(meth)acrylamide, N,N-diethylaminoethyl(meth)acrylamide, N,N-diethylaminopropyl(meth)acrylamide, N,N-dimethylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate, N,N-dimethylaminopropyl (meth)acrylate, N,N-diethylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate, and N,N-diethylaminopropyl(meth)acrylamide.

The amino group-containing (meth)acrylate is used in an amount of 0.01 to 0.5% by weight based on the total amount of the monomer components used to form the (meth)acrylic polymer. The content of the amino group-containing (meth)acrylate is preferably from 0.01 to 0.3% by weight, more preferably from 0.05 to 0.15% by weight. If the content of the amino group-containing (meth)acrylate is less than 0.01% by weight, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer can have poor crosslink stability so that satisfactory reworkability or processability cannot be achieved. Such a content is also not preferred in view of durability. On the other hand, in view of reworkability, the content of the amino group-containing (meth)acrylate should not be too high and is controlled to be 0.5% by weight or less.

Any hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate having a hydroxyl group and a polymerizable functional group having a (meth)acryloyl group unsaturated double bond may be used without any particular limitations. Examples of the hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate include hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylates such as 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxybutyl (meth)acrylate, 3-hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, 4-hydroxybutyl (meth)acrylate, 6-hydroxyhexyl (meth)acrylate, 8-hydroxyoctyl (meth)acrylate, 10-hydroxydecyl (meth)acrylate, and 12-hydroxylauryl (meth)acrylate; hydroxyethyl(meth)acrylamide, and others, such as (4-hydroxymethylcyclohexyl)methyl acrylate, N-methylol(meth)acrylamide, and N-hydroxy(meth)acrylamide.

The hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate may be used in an amount of 0.05 to 2% by weight, based on the total amount of the monomer components forming the (meth)acrylic polymer. The content of the hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate is preferably from 0.05 to 1.5% by weight, more preferably from 0.1 to 1% by weight. In order to improve durability, the content of the hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate is preferably 0.05% by weight or more. Particularly when an isocyanate crosslinking agent is used, the content of the hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate is preferably 0.06% by weight or more in order to ensure crosslinking points with the isocyanate group. On the other hand, if the content of the hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate monomer is too high, the adhering strength can be undesirably high so that peeling can be too low to provide satisfactory reworkability.

Any carboxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate having a carboxyl group and a polymerizable functional group with a (meth)acryloyl unsaturated double bond may be used without any particular limitations. Examples of the carboxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate include (meth)acrylic acid, carboxyethyl (meth)acrylate, and carboxypentyl (meth)acrylate.

The carboxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate may be used in an amount of 0.05 to 3% by weight, as needed, based on the total amount of the monomer components forming the (meth)acrylic polymer. The content of the carboxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate is preferably from 0.05 to 2% by weight, more preferably from 0.1 to 1% by weight. In order to improve durability, the content of the carboxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate is preferably 0.05% by weight or more. On the other hand, if the content of the carboxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate is more than 3% by weight, the adhering strength can be undesirably high so that peel strength can be too high to provide satisfactory reworkability.

Any monomer component other than the monomers described above may be used in an amount of not more than 45% by weight of the total amount of the monomers forming the (meth)acrylic polymer, as long as it does not impair the purposes of the invention. The content of any other monomer is more preferably 40% by weight or less. Examples of such any other monomer include acid anhydride group-containing monomers such as maleic anhydride and itaconic anhydride; caprolactone adducts of acrylic acid; sulfonic acid group-containing monomers such as styrenesulfonic acid, allylsulfonic acid, 2-(meth)acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, (meth)acrylamidepropanesulfonic acid, sulfopropyl (meth)acrylate, and (meth)acryloyloxynaphthalenesulfonic acid; phosphate group-containing monomers such as 2-hydroxyethylacryloyl phosphate; and alkoxyalkyl (meth)acrylate monomers such as methoxyethyl (meth)acrylate and ethoxyethyl (meth)acrylate.

Examples of additional monomers that may be used include vinyl monomers such as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, styrene, α-methylstyrene, and N-vinylcaprolactam; epoxy group-containing acrylic monomers such as glycidyl (meth)acrylate; glycol acrylate monomers such as polyethylene glycol (meth)acrylate, polypropylene glycol (meth)acrylate, methoxyethylene glycol (meth)acrylate, and methoxypolypropylene glycol (meth)acrylate; and (meth)acrylate ester-based monomers such as tetrahydrofurfuryl (meth)acrylate, fluoro(meth)acrylate, silicone (meth)acrylate, and 2-methoxyethyl acrylate.

A copolymerizable monomer other than the above, such as a silane monomer having a silicon atom may also be used. Examples of the silane monomer include 3-acryloxypropyltriethoxysilane, vinyltrimethoxysilane, vinyltriethoxysilane, 4-vinylbutyltrimethoxysilane, 4-vinylbutyltriethoxysilane, 8-vinyloctyltrimethoxysilane, 8-vinyloctyltriethoxysilane, 10-methacryloyloxydecyltrimethoxysilane, 10-acryloyloxydecyltrimethoxysilane, 10-methacryloyloxydecyltriethoxysilane, and 10-acryloyloxydecyltriethoxysilane.

In an embodiment of the invention, a (meth)acrylic polymer with a weight average molecular weight of 1,600,000 to 3,000,000 is used in view of durability, particularly heat resistance. The (meth)acrylic polymer to be used preferably has a weight average molecular weight of 1,800,000 to 2,800,000, more preferably of 2,000,000 to 2,600,000. A weight average molecular weight of less than 1,600,000 is not preferred in view of heat resistance. Too high weight average molecular weight can reduce the bonding properties or the adhesive strength and thus is not preferred. The weight average molecular weight refers to values measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and calculated by converting the weight average molecular weight in terms of polystyrene.

In an embodiment of the invention, the (meth)acrylic polymer should have a degree of dispersion between its weight average molecular weight (Mw) and the number average molecular weight (Mn)) in the range of 1 to 10. In view of durability, particularly heat resistance, the degree of dispersion is particularly preferably from 1 to 8, more preferably from 1.5 to 7, still more preferably from 2 to 6. If the degree of dispersion is too high, the content of low molecular weight polymers can increase so that defects such as foaming could easily occur in a heating test.

For the production of the (meth)acrylic polymer, any appropriate method may be selected from known production methods such as solution polymerization, bulk polymerization, emulsion polymerization, and various radical polymerization methods. The resulting (meth)acrylic polymer may be any type of copolymer such as a random copolymer, a block copolymer and a graft copolymer.

In a solution polymerization process, for example, ethyl acetate, toluene or the like is used as a polymerization solvent. In a specific solution polymerization process, for example, the reaction is performed under a stream of inert gas such as nitrogen at a temperature of about 50 to about 70° C. for about 5 to about 30 hours in the presence of a polymerization initiator.

Any appropriate polymerization initiator, chain transfer agent, emulsifying agent and so on may be selected and used for radical polymerization. The weight average molecular weight of the (meth)acrylic polymer may be controlled by the amount of addition of the polymerization initiator or the chain transfer agent or by the reaction conditions. The amount of the addition may be controlled as appropriate depending on the type of these materials.

Examples of the polymerization initiator include, but are not limited to, azo initiators such as 2,2′-azobisisobutylonitrile, 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride, 2,2′-azobis[2-(5-methyl-2-imidazoline-2-yl)propane]dihydrochloride, 2,2′-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine)disulfate, 2,2′-azobis(N,N′-dimethyleneisobutylamidine), and 2,2′-azobis[N-(2-carboxyethyl)-2-methylpropionamidine]hydrate (VA-057, manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.); persulfates such as potassium persulfate and ammonium persulfate; peroxide initiators such as di(2-ethylhexyl)peroxydicarbonate, di(4-tert-butylcyclohexyl)peroxydicarbonate, di-sec-butylperoxydicarbonate, tert-butylperoxyneodecanoate, tert-hexylperoxypivalate, tert-butylperoxypivalate, dilauroyl peroxide, di-n-octanoyl peroxide, 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutylperoxy-2-ethyl hexanoate, di(4-methylbenzoyl) peroxide, dibenzoyl peroxide, tert-butylperoxyisobutylate, 1,1-di(tert-hexylperoxy)cyclohexane, tert-butylhydroperoxide, and hydrogen peroxide; and redox system initiators of a combination of a peroxide and a reducing agent, such as a combination of a persulfate and sodium hydrogen sulfite and a combination of a peroxide and sodium ascorbate.

One of the above polymerization initiators may be used alone, or two or more thereof may be used in a mixture. The total content of the polymerization initiator is preferably from about 0.005 to 1 part by weight, more preferably from about 0.02 to about 0.5 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the monomer.

For example, when 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile is used as a polymerization initiator for the production of the (meth)acrylic polymer with the above weight average molecular weight, the polymerization initiator is preferably used in a content of from about 0.06 to 0.2 parts by weight, more preferably of from about 0.08 to 0.175 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the total content of the monomer components.

Examples of the chain transfer agent include lauryl mercaptan, glycidyl mercaptan, mercaptoacetic acid, 2-mercaptoethanol, thioglycolic acid, 2-ethylhexyl thioglycolate, and 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanol. One of these chain transfer agents may be used alone, or two or more thereof may be used in a mixture. The total content of the chain transfer agent is preferably 0.1 parts by weight or less, based on 100 parts by weight of the total content of the monomer components.

Examples of the emulsifier used in emulsion polymerization include anionic emulsifiers such as sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, ammonium polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate, and sodium polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether sulfate; and nonionic emulsifiers such as polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester, and polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block polymers. These emulsifiers may be used alone, or two or more thereof may be used in combination.

The emulsifier may be a reactive emulsifier. Examples of such an emulsifier having an introduced radical-polymerizable functional group such as a propenyl group and an allyl ether group include Aqualon HS-10, HS-20, KH-10, BC-05, BC-10, and BC-20 (each manufactured by Dai-ichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd.) and Adekaria Soap SELON (manufactured by ADEKA CORPORATION). The reactive emulsifier is preferred, because after polymerization, it can be incorporated into a polymer chain to improve water resistance. Based on 100 parts by weight of the total monomer component, the emulsifier is preferably used in a content of 0.3 to 5 parts by weight, more preferably of 0.5 to 1 parts by weight, in view of polymerization stability or mechanical stability.

The pressure-sensitive adhesive composition of the present invention also includes a peroxide.

In the present invention, any peroxide capable of generating active radical species by heating or photoirradiation and promoting the crosslinking of the base polymer in the pressure-sensitive adhesive composition may be appropriately used. In view of workability and stability, a peroxide with a one-minute half-life temperature of 80° C. to 160° C. is preferably used, and a peroxide with a one-minute half-life temperature of 90° C. to 140° C. is more preferably used.

Examples of the peroxide for use in the present invention include di(2-ethylhexyl) peroxydicarbonate (one-minute half-life temperature: 90.6° C.), di(4-tert-butylcyclohexyl) peroxydicarbonate (one-minute half-life temperature: 92.1° C.), di-sec-butyl peroxydicarbonate (one-minute half-life temperature: 92.4° C.), tert-butyl peroxyneodecanoate (one-minute half-life temperature: 103.5° C.), tert-hexyl peroxypivalate (one-minute half-life temperature: 109.1° C.), tert-butyl peroxypivalate (one-minute half-life temperature: 110.3° C.), dilauroyl peroxide (one-minute half-life temperature: 116.4° C.), di-n-octanoylperoxide (one-minute half-life temperature: 117.4° C.), 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutylperoxy-2-ethyl hexanoate (one-minute half-life temperature: 124.3° C.), di(4-methylbenzoyl) peroxide (one-minute half-life temperature: 128.2° C.), dibenzoyl peroxide (one-minute half-life temperature: 130.0° C.), tert-butyl peroxyisobutylate (one-minute half-life temperature: 136.1° C.), and 1,1-di(tert-hexylperoxy)cyclohexane (one-minute half-life temperature: 149.2° C.). In particular, di(4-tert-butylcyclohexyl) peroxydicarbonate (one-minute half-life temperature: 92.1° C.), dilauroyl peroxide (one-minute half-life temperature: 116.4° C.), dibenzoyl peroxide (one-minute half-life temperature: 130.0° C.), or the like is preferably used, because they can provide high crosslinking reaction efficiency.

The half life of the peroxide is an indicator of how fast the peroxide can be decomposed and refers to the time required for the amount of the peroxide to reach one half of its original value. The decomposition temperature required for a certain half life and the half life time obtained at a certain temperature are shown in catalogs furnished by manufacturers, such as “Organic Peroxide Catalog, 9th Edition, May, 2003” furnished by NOF CORPORATION.

One or more of the peroxides may be used alone or in combination. The total content of the peroxide is from 0.01 to 2 parts by weight, preferably from 0.04 to 1.5 parts by weight, more preferably from 0.05 to 1 part by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the (meth)acrylic polymer. To adjust processability, reworkability, crosslink stability, and releasability, the content can be optionally selected.

The amount of decomposition of the peroxide may be determined by measuring the peroxide residue after the reaction process by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

More specifically, for example, after the reaction process, about 0.2 g of each pressure-sensitive adhesive composition is taken out, immersed in 10 ml of ethyl acetate, subjected to shaking extraction at 25° C. and 120 rpm for 3 hours in a shaker, and then allowed to stand at room temperature for 3 days. Thereafter, 10 ml of acetonitrile is added, and the mixture is shaken at 25° C. and 120 rpm for 30 minutes. About 10 μl of the liquid extract obtained by filtration through a membrane filter (0.45 μm) is subjected to HPLC by injection and analyzed so that the amount of the peroxide after the reaction process is determined.

Peroxide crosslinking is mediated by the formation of radicals. In an oxygen atmosphere, therefore, peroxide crosslinking generally causes a side reaction in which even when radicals are produced, they bond to oxygen at a very high rate, so that the crosslinking can be easily inhibited. Even when crosslinking proceeds to a certain extent such that the initial gel fraction can be kept high, degraded species can be produced in the polymer, so that the gel fraction can be significantly reduced by oxidative degradation in a heating test or the like performed later, which leads to degradation of the durability. In order to prevent oxidative degradation, the crosslinking reaction may be carried out under conditions where oxygen supply is inhibited as much as possible (such as nitrogen purge conditions) so that oxygen itself can be less likely to affect the reaction. This method is effective but less productive. Practically, the introduction of a specific functional group-containing copolymerizable monomer can facilitate concentration of crosslinking sites (radical generating sites) into the side chain, for example, in a case where a polyfunctional monomer having a reactive double bond or the like is copolymerized. However, the polymerization reaction of such a polyfunctional monomer is difficult to control, and a constant molecular weight is difficult to obtain. In the oxidative degradation mechanism, the generated —O—O— bond has very low dissociation energy and therefore is easily decomposed at low energy so that the radical concentration can be doubled. RO. produced by this chain process can undergo P cleavage so that the molecular weight of the polymer can be reduced. When crosslinks are present mainly at tertiary carbons of the main chain, the above process can break the main chain so that destructive degradation of the polymer can proceed.

According to the invention, the peroxide interacts with the amino group in the (meth)acrylic polymer so that the peroxide crosslinking can favorably proceed. Namely, crosslinks are present mainly in the side chain of the polymer so that destructive degradation of the polymer can be prevented, which would otherwise be caused by cleavage of the main chain. Finally, therefore, the durability can be maintained. Even a low content of the amine in the (meth)acrylic polymer is highly effective. In particular, the amino group is preferably a tertiary amino group. A redox reaction between the tertiary amine and the peroxide facilitates crosslinking selectively in the side chain so that a very high level of crosslink stability can be exhibited. It is considered that an increase in adhesive strength and a reduction in durability can be caused mainly by degradation during heating and storing or a reduction in cohesive strength. Therefore, the pressure-sensitive adhesive composition of the invention has not only improved durability but also improved reworkability.

The pressure-sensitive adhesive composition of the invention also includes a silane coupling agent so that the adhering strength and the durability can be improved. Any appropriate known silane coupling agent may be used.

Examples of the silane coupling agent include epoxy group-containing silane coupling agents such as 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropyltriethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropylmethyldiethoxysilane, and 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)ethyltrimethoxysilane; amino group-containing silane coupling agents such as 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane, and 3-triethoxysilyl-N-(1,3-dimethylbutylidene)propylamine, and N-phenyl-γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane; (meth)acrylic group-containing silane coupling agents such as 3-acryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane and 3-methacryloxypropyltriethoxysilane; isocyanate group-containing silane coupling agents such as 3-isocyanatepropyltriethoxysilane; and acetoacetyl group-containing silane coupling agents such as acetoacetyl group-containing trimethoxysilane. In particular, an acetoacetyl group-containing silane coupling agent or an amino-group containing silane coupling agent is preferably used to achieve a balance between the reworkability and the durability of the pressure-sensitive adhesive during humidification, although any other silane coupling agent may be used.

One or more of the silane coupling agents may be used alone or in any combination. The total amount of the silane coupling agent(s) is preferably from 0.01 to 2 parts by weight, more preferably from 0.02 to 1 part by weight, even more preferably from 0.05 to 0.6 part by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the (meth)acrylic polymer. With such an amount, the durability can be improved, while an adequate level of adhering strength to an optical component such as a liquid crystal cell can be maintained.

In an embodiment of the invention, an isocyanate crosslinking agent may be optionally added as another crosslinking agent. Examples of such a crosslinking agent include isocyanate monomers such as tolylene diisocyanate, chlorophenylene diisocyanate, tetramethylene diisocyanate, xylylene diisocyanate, diphenylmethane diisocyanate, and hydrogenated diphenylmethane diisocyanate, and isocyanate compounds produced by adding the isocyanate monomer to trimethylolpropane or the like; isocyanurate compounds; biuret type compounds; and further urethane prepolymer type isocyanates produced by addition reaction with polyether polyols, polyester polyols, acrylic polyols, polybutadiene polyols, polyisoprene polyols, or the like. Particularly preferred are polyisocyanate compounds including at least one selected from the group consisting of hexamethylene diisocyanate, hydrogenated xylylene diisocyanate, and isophorone diisocyanate, or a polyisocyanate compound derived therefrom. Examples of one selected from the group consisting of hexamethylene diisocyanate, hydrogenated xylylene diisocyanate, and isophorone diisocyanate, or the polyisocyanate compound derived therefrom include hexamethylene diisocyanate, hydrogenated xylylene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, polyol-modified hexamethylene diisocyanate, polyol-modified hydrogenated xylylene diisocyanate, trimer type hydrogenated xylylene diisocyanate, and polyol-modified isophorone diisocyanate. The polyisocyanate compounds listed above are preferred, because they can rapidly react with the hydroxyl group and particularly contribute to rapid crosslinking, in which specifically an acid or a base contained in the polymer can act like a catalyst.

One or more of the isocyanate crosslinking agents may be used alone or in any combination. The total amount of the isocyanate crosslinking agent(s), specifically the total amount of the polyisocyanate compound crosslinking agent(s), is preferably from 0.01 to 2 parts by weight, more preferably from 0.02 to 2 parts by weight, even more preferably from 0.05 to 1.5 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the (meth)acrylic polymer. The isocyanate crosslinking agent may be added as needed in consideration of cohesive strength, prevention of peeling off during a durability test, or the like.

An organic crosslinking agent or a polyfunctional metal chelate may also be used as the crosslinking agent. Examples of the organic crosslinking agent include epoxy crosslinking agents, and imine crosslinking agents. The polyfunctional metal chelate may comprise a polyvalent metal and an organic compound that is covalently or coordinately bonded to the metal. Examples of the polyvalent metal atom include Al, Cr, Zr, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, V, Zn, In, Ca, Mg, Mn, Y, Ce, Sr, Ba, Mo, La, Sn, and Ti. The organic compound has a covalent or coordinate bond-forming atom such as an oxygen atom. Examples of the organic compound include alkyl esters, alcohol compounds, carboxylic acid compounds, ether compounds, and ketone compounds.

When the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is formed, not only the control of the amount of addition of these agents but also the effect of the crosslinking temperature or the crosslinking time should be well taken into account.

The crosslinking temperature and the crosslinking time can be controlled depending on the type of the crosslinking agent to be used. The crosslinking temperature is preferably 170° C. or lower.

The crosslinking process may be performed at the temperature where the process of drying the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is performed, or an independent crosslinking process may be performed after the drying process.

The crosslinking time is generally from about 0.2 to about 20 minutes, preferably from about 0.5 to about 10 minutes, while it can be determined in view of productivity or workability.

The pressure-sensitive adhesive composition of the present invention may also contain any other known additive. For example, a powder such as a colorant and a pigment, a dye, a surfactant, a plasticizer, a tackifier, a surface lubricant, a leveling agent, a softening agent, an antioxidant, an age resister, a light stabilizer, an ultraviolet absorbing agent, a polymerization inhibitor, an inorganic or organic filler, a metal powder, or a particle- or foil-shaped material may be added as appropriate depending on the intended use. A redox system including an added reducing agent may also be used in the controllable range.

The pressure-sensitive adhesive optical member such as optical film of the present invention includes an optical film and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer that is formed from the pressure-sensitive adhesive on at least one side of the optical film.

For example, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer may be formed by a method that includes applying the pressure-sensitive adhesive composition to a release-treated separator or the like, removing polymerization solvents and so on by drying and curing the composition to form a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, and then transferring the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer onto an optical film. Alternatively, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer may be formed by a method that includes directly applying the pressure-sensitive adhesive composition to an optical film serving as the base material and removing polymerization solvents and so on by drying and curing the composition to form a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on the optical film. Before the pressure-sensitive adhesive is applied, one or more optional solvents other than the polymerization solvents may be further added to the pressure-sensitive adhesive.

A silicone peeling off liner is preferably used as the release-treated separator. The adhesive composition of the invention may be applied to such a liner and dried to form a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. In this process, any appropriate method may be used for drying the pressure-sensitive adhesive, depending on the purpose. A method of heating and drying the coating film is preferably used. The heating and drying temperature is preferably from 40° C. to 200° C., more preferably from 50° C. to 180° C., particularly preferably from 70° C. to 170° C. When the heating temperature is set within the range, a pressure-sensitive adhesive with a high level of adhesive properties can be obtained.

Any appropriate drying time may be used as needed. The drying time is preferably from 5 seconds to 20 minutes, more preferably from 5 seconds to 10 minutes, particularly preferably from 10 seconds to 5 minutes.

The surface of the optical film may also be coated with an anchor layer or subjected to any adhesion-facilitating treatment such as corona treatment or plasma treatment, before the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is formed. The surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer may also be subjected to adhesion-facilitating treatment.

Various methods may be used to form the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. Examples of such methods include roll coating, kiss roll coating, gravure coating, reverse coating, roll brush coating, spray coating, dip roll coating, bar coating, knife coating, air knife coating, curtain coating, lip coating, and extrusion coating with a die coater or the like.

The thickness of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is not limited, but for example, from about 1 to 100 μm, preferably from 2 to 50 μm, more preferably from 2 to 40 μm, still more preferably from 5 to 35 μm.

The resulting pressure-sensitive adhesive layer according to the invention may have a gel fraction of 55 to 95%, preferably of 60 to 95%, more preferably of 70 to 95%, one hour after the coating. The gel fraction falling within such a range means that the crosslinking rate can be high; dents would be less likely to be generated; and the resulting pressure-sensitive adhesive layer can be free from the generation of dents.

The resulting pressure-sensitive adhesive layer according to the invention may have a gel fraction of 60 to 95%, preferably of 65 to 95%, particularly preferably of 70 to 90%, one week after the coating.

In the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, the coating preferably has a gel fraction of 40 to 95% by weight after standing at 23° C. and 65% RH for one week and then drying at 90° C. for 120 hours, which preferably differs by 20% by weight or less from the gel fraction of the coating after standing at 23° C. and 65% RH for one week. The gel fraction of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is 45 to 95% by weight, particularly preferably, 50 to 95% by weight after standing at 23° C. and 65% RH for one week and then drying at 90° C. for 120 hours.

In general, when the gel fraction is too high or low, durability can often be insufficient. If the gel fraction is too high, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer can fail to withstand the dimensional change of the optical film due to shrinkage or expansion particularly under heating conditions so that a defect such as peeling off from a liquid crystal cell could easily occur. If the gel fraction is too low, a defect such as foaming between a liquid crystal cell and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer could easily occur particularly under a highly humidified condition.

The resulting pressure-sensitive adhesive layer according to the invention should have a refractive index of less than 1.5. In order to prevent light leakage from an image display device including the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer-containing optical film, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer preferably has no birefringence. From this point of view, the refractive index is more preferably less than 1.496, still more preferably less than 1.492.

The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of the invention preferably has a holding power (H) of 20 to 350 μm, more preferably of 40 to 300 μm, particularly preferably of 50 to 250 μm, after it is applied to a film or the like and allowed to stand at room temperature (23° C.) for one week. If the holding power is too high or low, durability can be insufficient. If the holding power is too low, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer can fail to withstand the dimensional change of the optical film due to shrinkage or expansion particularly under humidified conditions so that a defect such as foaming between a liquid crystal cell and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer could easily occur.

When the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is exposed, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer may be protected with a sheet having undergone release treatment (a separator) before practical use.

Examples of the material for forming the separator include a plastic film such as a polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, or polyester film, a porous material such as paper, cloth and nonwoven fabric, and an appropriate thin material such as a net, a foamed sheet, a metal foil, and a laminate thereof. In particular, a plastic film is preferably used, because of its good surface smoothness.

The plastic film may be any film capable of protecting the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, and examples thereof include a polyethylene film, a polypropylene film, a polybutene film, a polybutadiene film, a polymethylpentene film, a polyvinyl chloride film, a vinyl chloride copolymer film, a polyethylene terephthalate film, a polybutylene terephthalate film, a polyurethane film, and an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer film.

The thickness of the separator is generally from about 5 to about 200 μm, preferably from about 5 to about 100 μm. If necessary, the separator may be treated with a release agent such as a silicone, fluorine, long-chain alkyl, or fatty acid amide release agent, or may be subjected to release and antifouling treatment with silica powder or to antistatic treatment of coating type, kneading and mixing type, vapor-deposition type, or the like. In particular, if the surface of the separator is appropriately subjected to release treatment such as silicone treatment, long-chain alkyl treatment, and fluorine treatment, the releasability from the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer can be further increased.

In the above production method, the release-treated sheet may be used without modification as a separator for the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet, the pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film or the like, so that the process can be simplified.

The optical film may be of any type for use in forming image displays such as liquid crystal displays. For example, a polarizing plate is exemplified as the optical film. A polarizing plate including a polarizer and a transparent protective film provided on one or both sides of the polarizer is generally used.

A polarizer is not limited especially but various kinds of polarizer may be used.

As a polarizer, for example, a film that is uniaxially stretched after having dichromatic substances, such as iodine and dichromatic dye, absorbed to hydrophilic high molecular weight polymer films, such as polyvinyl alcohol type film, partially formalized polyvinyl alcohol type film, and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer type partially saponified film; poly-ene type alignment films, such as dehydrated polyvinyl alcohol and dehydrochlorinated polyvinyl chloride, etc. may be mentioned. In these, a polyvinyl alcohol type film on which dichromatic materials such as iodine, is absorbed and aligned after stretched is suitably used. Although thickness of polarizer is not especially limited, the thickness of about 5 to 80 μm is commonly adopted.

A polarizer that is uniaxially stretched after a polyvinyl alcohol type film dyed with iodine is obtained by stretching a polyvinyl alcohol film by 3 to 7 times the original length, after dipped and dyed in aqueous solution of iodine. If needed the film may also be dipped in aqueous solutions, such as boric acid and potassium iodide, which may include zinc sulfate, zinc chloride. Furthermore, before dyeing, the polyvinyl alcohol type film may be dipped in water and rinsed if needed. By rinsing polyvinyl alcohol type film with water, effect of preventing un-uniformity, such as unevenness of dyeing, is expected by making polyvinyl alcohol type film swelled in addition that also soils and blocking inhibitors on the polyvinyl alcohol type film surface may be washed off. Stretching may be applied after dyed with iodine or may be applied concurrently, or conversely dyeing with iodine may be applied after stretching. Stretching is applicable in aqueous solutions, such as boric acid and potassium iodide, and in water bath.

A thermoplastic resin with a high level of transparency, mechanical strength, thermal stability, moisture blocking properties, isotropy, and the like may be used as a material for forming the transparent protective film. Examples of such a thermoplastic resin include cellulose resins such as triacetylcellulose, polyester resins, polyethersulfone resins, polysulfone resins, polycarbonate resins, polyamide resins, polyimide resins, polyolefin resins, (meth)acrylic resins, cyclic olefin polymer resins (norbornene resins), polyarylate resins, polystyrene resins, polyvinyl alcohol resins, and any mixture thereof. The transparent protective film is generally laminated to one side of the polarizer with the adhesive layer, but thermosetting resins or ultraviolet curing resins such as (meth)acrylic, urethane, acrylic urethane, epoxy, or silicone resins may be used to other side of the polarizer for the transparent protective film. The transparent protective film may also contain at least one type of any appropriate additive. Examples of the additive include an ultraviolet absorbing agent, an antioxidant, a lubricant, a plasticizer, a release agent, an anti-discoloration agent, a flame retardant, a nucleating agent, an antistatic agent, a pigment, and a colorant. The content of the thermoplastic resin in the transparent protective film is preferably from 50 to 100% by weight, more preferably from 50 to 99% by weight, still more preferably from 60 to 98% by weight, particularly preferably from 70 to 97% by weight. If the content of the thermoplastic resin in the transparent protective film is 50% by weight or less, high transparency and other properties inherent in the thermoplastic resin can fail to be sufficiently exhibited.

Moreover, as is described in JP-A No. 2001-343529 (WO 01/37007), polymer films, for example, resin compositions including (A) thermoplastic resins having substituted and/or non-substituted imido group in sidechain, and (B) thermoplastic resins having substituted and/or non-substituted phenyl and nitrile group in sidechain may be mentioned. As an illustrative example, a film may be mentioned that is made of a resin composition including alternating copolymer comprising iso-butylene and N-methyl maleimide, and acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer. A film comprising mixture extruded article of resin compositions etc. may be used. Since the films are less in retardation and less in photoelastic coefficient, faults such as unevenness due to a strain in a polarizing plate can be removed and besides, since they are less in moisture permeability, they are excellent in durability under humidified environment.

Thickness of the transparent protective film can be properly determined and generally in the range of from about 1 to 500 μm from the viewpoint of a strength, workability such as handlability, requirement for a thin film and the like. Especially, the thickness is preferably in the range of from 1 to 300 μm and more preferably in the range of from 5 to 200 μm. Therefore, it is particularly preferred that the transparent protective film has a thickness of 5 to 150 μm.

Note that in a case where the transparent protective films are provided on both sides of a polarizer, the protective films made from the same polymer may be used on both sides thereof or alternatively, the protective films made from polymer materials different from each other may also be used on respective both sides thereof.

At least one selected from a cellulose resin, a polycarbonate resin, a cyclic polyolefin resin, and a (meth)acrylic resin is preferably used for the transparent protective film according to the present invention.

The cellulose resin is an ester of cellulose and a fatty acid. Examples of such a cellulose ester resin include triacetyl cellulose, diacetyl cellulose, tripropionyl cellulose, dipropionyl cellulose, and the like. In particular, triacetyl cellulose is preferred. Much commercially available triacetyl celluloses are placing on sale and are advantageous in view of easy availability and cost. Examples of commercially available products of triacetyl cellulose include UV-50, UV-80, SH-80, TD-80U, TD-TAC, and UZ-TAC (trade names) manufactured by Fujifilm Corporation, and KC series manufactured by Konica Minolta. In general, these triacetyl cellulose products have a thickness direction retardation (Rth) of about 60 nm or less, while having an in-plane retardation (Re) of almost zero.

Cellulose resin films with relatively small thickness direction retardation may be obtained by processing any of the above cellulose resins. Examples of the processing method include a method that includes laminating a general cellulose-based film to a base film such as a polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, or stainless steel film, coated with a solvent such as cyclopentanone or methyl ethyl ketone, drying the laminate by heating (for example, at 80 to 150° C. for 3 to 10 minutes) and then separating the base film; and a method that includes coating a general cellulose resin film with a solution of a norbornene resin, a (meth)acrylic resin or the like in a solvent such as cyclopentanone or methyl ethyl ketone, drying the coated film by heating (for example, at 80 to 150° C. for 3 to 10 minutes), and then separating the coating.

The cellulose resin film with a relatively small thickness direction retardation to be used may be a fatty acid cellulose resin film with a controlled degree of fat substitution. While triacetyl cellulose for general use has a degree of acetic acid substitution of about 2.8, preferably, the degree of acetic acid substitution is controlled to 1.8 to 2.7, so that the Rth can be reduced. The Rth may also be controlled to be low by adding a plasticizer such as dibutyl phthalate, p-toluenesulfonanilide, and acetyl triethyl citrate, to the fatty acid-substituted cellulose resin. The plasticizer is preferably added in amount of 40 parts by weight or less, more preferably of 1 to 20 parts by weight, still more preferably of 1 to 15 parts by weight, to 100 parts by weight of the fatty acid cellulose resin.

For example, the cyclic polyolefin resin is preferably a norbornene resin. Cyclic olefin resin is a generic name for resins produced by polymerization of cyclic olefin used as a polymerizable unit, and examples thereof include the resins disclosed in JP-A Nos. 01-240517, 03-14882, and 03-122137. Specific examples thereof include ring-opened (co)polymers of cyclic olefins, addition polymers of cyclic olefins, copolymers (typically random copolymers) of cyclic olefins and α-olefins such as ethylene and propylene, graft polymers produced by modification thereof with unsaturated carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof, and hydrides thereof. Examples of the cyclic olefin include norbornene monomers.

Various commercially available cyclic polyolefin resins are placing on sale. Examples thereof include Zeonex (trade name) and Zeonor (trade name) series manufactured by Zeon Corporation, Arton (trade name) series manufactured by JSR Corporation, Topas (trade name) series manufactured by Ticona, and Apel (trade name) series manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.

The (meth)acrylic resin preferably has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 115° C. or more, more preferably of 120° C. or more, still more preferably of 125° C. or more, particularly preferably of 130° C. or more. If the Tg is 115° C. or more, the resulting polarizing plate can have good durability. The upper limit to the Tg of the (meth)acrylic resin is preferably, but not limited to, 170° C. or less, in view of formability and the like. The (meth)acrylic resin can form a film with an in-plane retardation (Re) of almost zero and a thickness direction retardation (Rth) of almost zero.

Any appropriate (meth)acrylic resin may be used as long as the advantages of the present invention are not reduced. Examples of such a (meth)acrylic resin include poly(meth)acrylate such as poly(methyl methacrylate), methyl methacrylate-(meth)acrylic acid copolymers, methyl methacrylate-(meth)acrylate copolymers, methyl methacrylate-acrylate-(meth)acrylic acid copolymers, methyl (meth)acrylate-styrene copolymers (such as MS resins), and alicyclic hydrocarbon group-containing polymers (such as methyl methacrylate-cyclohexyl methacrylate copolymers and methyl methacrylate-norbornyl (meth)acrylate copolymers). Poly(C₁₋₆ alkyl (meth)acrylate) such as poly(methyl (meth)acrylate) is preferred, and a methyl methacrylate-based resin mainly composed of a methyl methacrylate unit (50 to 100% by weight, preferably 70 to 100% by weight) is more preferred.

Examples of the (meth)acrylic resin include Acrypet VH and Acrypet VRL20A each manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd., (meth)acrylic resins having a ring structure in their molecule as disclosed in JP-A No. 2004-70296, and high-Tg (meth)acrylic resins produced by intramolecular crosslinking or intramolecular cyclization reaction.

Lactone ring structure-containing (meth)acrylic resins may also be used, because they have high heat resistance and high transparency and also have high mechanical strength after biaxially stretched.

Examples of the lactone ring structure-containing (meth)acrylic reins include the lactone ring structure-containing (meth)acrylic reins disclosed in JP-A Nos. 2000-230016, 2001-151814, 2002-120326, 2002-254544, and 2005-146084.

The lactone ring structure-containing (meth)acrylic reins preferably have a ring structure represented by Formula (I):

wherein R¹, R² and R³ each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an organic residue of 1 to 20 carbon atoms. The organic residue may contain an oxygen atom(s).

The content of the lactone ring structure represented by Formula (I) in the lactone ring structure-containing (meth)acrylic resin is preferably from 5 to 90% by weight, more preferably from 10 to 70% by weight, still more preferably from 10 to 60% by weight, particularly preferably from 10 to 50% by weight. If the content of the lactone ring structure represented by Formula (I) in the lactone ring structure-containing (meth)acrylic resin is less than 5% by weight, its heat resistance, solvent resistance or surface hardness can be insufficient. If the content of the lactone ring structure represented by Formula (I) in the lactone ring structure-containing (meth)acrylic resin is more than 90% by weight, its formability or workability can be poor.

The lactone ring structure-containing (meth)acrylic resin preferably has a mass average molecular weight (also referred to as weight average molecular weight) of 1,000 to 2,000,000, more preferably of 5,000 to 1,000,000, still more preferably of 10,000 to 500,000, particularly preferably of 50,000 to 500,000. A mass average molecular weight outside the above range is not preferred in view of formability or workability.

The lactone ring structure-containing (meth)acrylic resin preferably has a Tg of 115° C. or more, more preferably of 120° C. or more, still more preferably of 125° C. or more, particularly preferably of 130° C. or more. For example, the resin with a Tg of 115° C. or more can produce good durability, when it is incorporated in the form of a transparent protective film in a polarizing plate. The upper limit to the Tg of the lactone ring structure-containing (meth)acrylic resin is preferably, but not limited to, 170° C. or less in view of formability and the like.

The total light transmittance of the lactone ring structure-containing (meth)acrylic resin, which may be measured according to ASTM-D-1003 with respect to injection molded products, is preferably as high as possible, and specifically, it is preferably 85% or more, more preferably 88% or more, still more preferably 90% or more. The total light transmittance is an index of transparency, and a total light transmittance of less than 85% can result in reduced transparency.

The transparent protective film may be subjected to surface modification treatment before it is applied with the adhesive to improve adhesiveness to polarizer. Specific examples of such treatment include corona treatment, plasma treatment, ozone treatment, flame treatment, primer treatment, glow treatment, saponification treatment, and coupling agent treatment.

A hard coat layer may be prepared, or antireflection processing, processing aiming at sticking prevention, diffusion or anti glare may be performed onto the face on which the polarizing film of the above described transparent protective film has not been adhered.

Further an optical film of the present invention may be used as other optical layers, such as a reflective plate, a anti-transflective plate, a retardation plate (a half wavelength plate and a quarter wavelength plate included), and a viewing angle compensation film, which may be used for formation of a liquid crystal display etc. These are used in practice as an optical film, or as one layer or two layers or more of optical layers laminated with polarizing plate.

The pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film of the present invention is preferably used to form various types of image displays such as liquid crystal displays. Liquid crystal displays may be formed according to conventional techniques. Specifically, liquid crystal displays are generally formed by appropriately assembling a liquid crystal cell and the pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film and optionally other component such as a lighting system and incorporating a driving circuit according to any conventional technique, except that the pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film of the present invention is used. Any type of liquid crystal cell may also be used such as a TN type, an STN type, a π type a VA type and IPS type.

Suitable liquid crystal displays, such as liquid crystal display with which the pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film has been located at one side or both sides of the liquid crystal cell, and with which a backlight or a reflective plate is used for a lighting system may be manufactured. In this case, the optical film may be installed in one side or both sides of the liquid crystal cell. When installing the optical films in both sides, they may be of the same type or of different type. Furthermore, in assembling a liquid crystal display, suitable parts, such as diffusion plate, anti-glare layer, antireflection film, protective plate, prism array, lens array sheet, optical diffusion plate, and backlight, may be installed in suitable position in one layer or two or more layers.

The pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film of the invention may have an adhesive strength as described below. Specifically, the pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film of the invention preferably shows an adhesive force (F1) of 1 N/25 mm to 10 N/25 mm, more preferably of 1 N/25 mm to 8.5 N/25 mm, particularly preferably of 2 N/25 mm to 7 N/25 mm. The adhesive force (F1) is the force when the film is peeled at a peel angle of 90° and a peel rate of 300 mm/minute after the steps of making it 25 mm wide, bonding it to an alkali-free glass plate through the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer by one reciprocation of a 2 kg roller, and allowing it to stand at 23° C. for one hour.

It also preferably shows an adhesive force (F2) of 2 N/25 mm to 15 N/25 mm, more preferably of 2 N/25 mm to 12 N/25 mm, particularly preferably of 3 N/25 mm to 10 N/25 mm. The adhesive force F2 is the force when the film is peeled at a peel angle of 90° and a peel rate of 300 mm/minute after the steps of making it 25 mm wide, bonding it to an alkali-free glass plate through the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer by one reciprocation of a 2 kg roller, and allowing it to stand at 23° C. for one hour and then dried at 60° C. for 48 hours.

EXAMPLES

The invention is more specifically described using the examples below, which are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. In each example, “part or parts” and “%” are all by weight. Unless otherwise specified, standing conditions at room temperature are 23° C. and 65% RH (for 1 hour or 1 week) in each case. The evaluation items in the examples and so on were measured as described below.

Measurement of Weight Average Molecular Weight

The weight average molecular weight of the resulting (meth)acrylic polymer was measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The sample was dissolved in dimethylformamide to form a 0.1% by weight solution. The solution was allowed to stand overnight and then filtered through a 0.45 μm membrane filter, and the resulting filtrate was used under the following conditions: analyzer, HLC-8120GPC manufactured by Tosoh Corporation; column, Super AWM-H, AW4000, AW2500, manufactured by Tosoh Corporation; column size, each 6.0 mmp×150 mm; eluent, a dimethylformamide solution of 30 mM lithium bromide and 30 mM phosphoric acid; flow rate, 0.4 ml/minute; detector, differential refractometer (RI); column temperature, 40° C.; injection volume, 20 μl.

Measurement of Number Average Molecular Weight

The number average molecular weight of the resulting (meth)acrylic polymer was also measured and calculated by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) similar to that described above.

Preparation of Polarizing Plate

An 80 μm-thick polyvinyl alcohol film was stretched to 3 times between rolls different in velocity ratio, while it was dyed in a 0.3% iodine solution at 30° C. for 1 minute. The film was then stretched to a total draw ratio of 6 times, while it was immersed in an aqueous solution containing 4% of boric acid and 10% of potassium iodide at 60° C. for 0.5 minutes. The film was then washed by immersion in an aqueous solution containing 1.5% of potassium iodide at 30° C. for 10 seconds and then dried at 50° C. for 4 minutes to give a polarizer. Saponified triacetylcellulose films each with a thickness of 80 μm were bonded to both sides of the polarizer with a polyvinyl alcohol adhesive to form a polarizing plate.

Production Example 1 Production of Acrylic Polymer

To a four-neck flask equipped with a stirring blade, a thermometer, a nitrogen gas introducing tube, and a condenser were added 73.1 parts of butyl acrylate, 26 parts of benzyl acrylate, 0.1 parts of N,N-dimethylaminoethyl acrylate, 0.3 parts of acrylic acid, 0.5 parts of 4-hydroxybutyl acrylate, 0.1 parts of 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile as a polymerization initiator, and 200 parts of ethyl acetate. Nitrogen gas was introduced to replace the air, while the mixture was gently stirred, and then a polymerization reaction was performed for 6 hours, while the temperature of the liquid in the flask was kept at about 55° C., so that a solution of an acrylic polymer was prepared. After the polymerization was completed, ethyl acetate was added to provide a solids content of 13% so that an acrylic polymer solution was prepared.

Production Examples 2 to 26

Acrylic polymer solutions were prepared using the process of Production Example 1, except that at least one of the type and the amount of the monomer components was changed as shown in Table 1. The weight average molecular weight, the degree of dispersion, and the refractive index of the acrylic polymer obtained in each example are shown in Table 1.

Example 1 Production of Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive Layer-Carrying Polarizing Plate

Based on 100 parts of the solids of the acrylic polymer solution obtained in Production Example 1, 0.40 parts of benzoyl peroxide (Nyper BMT40 (SV) manufactured by NOF Corporation) as a crosslinking agent and 0.2 parts of a silane coupling agent (KBM573 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) were added to the acrylic polymer solution so that an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive solution was prepared.

The acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive solution was then applied to one side of a silicone-treated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film (MRF38 manufactured by Mitsubishi Polyester Film Corporation) so as to provide a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer with a thickness of 20 μm after drying. The acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive solution was then dried at 155° C. for 2 minutes to form a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer was placed on and transferred to the polarizing plate so that a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer-carrying polarizing plate was prepared.

Examples 2 to 23 and Comparative Examples 1 to 13

Pressure-sensitive adhesive layer-carrying polarizing plates were prepared using the process of Example 1, except that the type of the acrylic polymer solution, the type or the amount of the crosslinking agent, or the type or the amount of the silane coupling agent for the preparation of the acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive solution was changed as shown in Table 2.

The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer-carrying polarizing plate (sample) obtained in each of the examples and the comparative examples was evaluated as described below. The results of the evaluation are shown in Table 2.

Measurement of Initial Adhesive Force

The sample was cut into 25 mm-wide pieces (120 m in length). Each sample piece was then press-bonded to a 0.7 mm-thick alkali-free glass plate (1737 manufactured by Corning Incorporated) by one reciprocation of a 2 kg roller and then aged at 23° C. for 1 hour. The sample piece was peeled from the glass plate at a peel angle of 90° and a peel rate of 300 mm/minute with a tensile tester (Autograph Shimazu AG-110KN), when the adhesive force (N/25 mm, 80 m in length during the measurement) was measured. In the measurement, sampling was performed at an interval of 0.5 seconds for one measurement, and the average was used as the measured value.

Measurement of Adhesive Force after 48 Hours at 60° C.

The sample was cut into 25 mm-wide pieces. Each sample piece was then press-bonded to a 0.7 mm-thick alkali-free glass plate (1737 manufactured by Corning Incorporated) by one reciprocation of a 2 kg roller and then aged at 23° C. for 1 hour. The sample piece was then dried at 60° C. for 48 hours. The sample piece was then peeled from the glass plate at a peel angle of 90° and a peel rate of 300 mm/minute with the same tensile tester, when the adhesive force (N/25 mm) was measured.

Reworkability

The sample was cut into 420 mm long×320 mm wide pieces. The sample piece was attached with a laminator to a 0.7 mm-thick alkali-free glass plate (1737 manufactured by Corning Incorporated) and then autoclaved at 50° C. and 5 atm for 15 minutes to be completely bonded. The sample piece was then heat-treated under dry conditions at 60° C. for 48 hours. The sample piece (the pressure-sensitive adhesive polarizing plate) was then peeled by hand from the alkali-free glass plate, and the reworkability was evaluated according to the criteria described below. In the evaluation of the reworkability, three sample pieces were prepared by the procedure described above, and the peeling process was repeated three times. The evaluation criteria were as shown below.

⊙: Three sample pieces were all successfully peeled with no adhesive residue or no film rupture. ◯: Film rupture occurred in one of the three sample pieces, but it was successfully peeled off by re-peeling. Δ: Film rupture occurred in all the three sample pieces, but each film was successfully separated by re-peeling. x: In all the three sample pieces, some adhesive residue was left, or films were ruptured and were not successfully separated every time peeling was performed.

As used herein, the term “adhesive residue” means the state in which the pressure-sensitive adhesive undergoes cohesive fracture (parting) in a bulk state so that the adhesive is clearly left on the polarizing plate side and the glass side.

Measurement of Gel Fraction

The gel fraction was evaluated using the pressure-sensitive adhesive composition obtained before the preparation of the sample of each of the examples and the comparative examples. Each composition was applied to a release-treated polyester film so that it would have a thickness of 25 μm after drying. The gel fraction of each composition was measured 1 hour after the application and 1 week after the application. The gel fraction was measured as described below. After the application, the pressure-sensitive adhesive was allowed to stand on the support at a temperature of 23° C. and a humidity of 65% RH. Thereafter, 0.2 g of the pressure-sensitive adhesive was sampled and wrapped in a fluororesin (TEMISH NTF-1122 manufactured by Nitto Denko Corporation) whose weight (Wa) was measured in advance. After the fluororesin was bound so that the pressure-sensitive adhesive did not leak, the weight (Wb) of the wrapped product was measured, and it was placed in a sample vial. To the vial was added 40 cc of ethyl acetate. The product was then allowed to stand for 1 hour or 7 days. The fluororesin-wrapped pressure-sensitive adhesive was then taken out, placed on an aluminum cup, and dried at 130° C. for 2 hours. The weight (Wc) of the fluororesin-wrapped sample was measured, and the gel fraction was calculated according to formula (I) below. After standing for 7 days as described above or after storing at 90° C. for 120 hours, the gel fraction was also determined in the same manner.

Gel fraction(% by weight)={(Wc−Wa)/(Wb−Wa)}×100

Measurement of Holding Power

The holding power (H) was measured as described below.

The prepared sample was allowed to stand at 23° C. for 1 week. An upper part (10 mm×10 mm) of the pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film (10 mm×30 mm) was attached to a bakelite board through the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. It was then autoclaved under the conditions of 50° C. and 5 atm for 15 minutes and allowed to stand at room temperature for 1 hour. A load of 500 g was then applied to the lower end of the pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film. After standing for 1 hour, the holding power was determined as the length of displacement of the pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film on the bakelite board before and after the application of the load.

Measurement of Refractive Index

The refractive index of the resulting (meth)acrylic polymer was measured with a multi-wavelength Abbe refractometer DR-M2 (manufactured by Atago Co., Ltd., measurement light source: sodium lamp (589.3 nm); measurement conditions: 23° C. and 65% RH). The acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive solution was applied to one side of a silicone-treated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film and dried to form a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer was laminated four times on the PET film to form a 100 μm-thick laminate which was used as a sample for the measurement.

Surface Staining

The 25 mm sample obtained in each of the examples and the comparative examples was bonded to an alkali-free glass plate (1737 manufactured by Corning Incorporated) by one reciprocation of a 2 kg roller and then aged at 23° C. for 1 hour. After the sample was peeled from the glass plate at a peel angle of 90° and a peel rate of 30 mm/minute, the surface of the glass plate was visually observed for the degree of staining, based on the evaluation criteria below.

◯: No staining was observed on the glass surface. Δ: Staining was observed on part of the glass surface. x: Staining was observed over the glass surface.

Punching Quality

Within 24 hours after the sample was prepared, 100 square pieces each with a side of 270 mm were obtained from the sample by punching. The operator evaluated the 100 pieces by visual observation and by touching with the hand with respect to whether or not the surface of the polarizing plate side had a sticky feeling or whether or not the surface of the polarizing plate was stained with the pressure-sensitive adhesive. How many pieces had a sticky feeling or a stain was determined, and evaluation was performed according to the criteria below.

◯: None of the 100 pieces had a sticky feeling or a stain. Δ: One to five of the 100 pieces had a sticky feeling or a stain. x: Six or more of the 100 pieces had a sticky feeling or a stain.

Number of Generation of Dents

Within 24 hours after the sample was prepared, 100 square pieces each with a side of 270 mm were obtained from the sample by punching. The 100 pieces were laminated in the same direction such that the polarizing plates were placed on the upper side. The laminate was allowed to stand at a temperature of 25° C. and a humidity of 55% for 1 week. Whether or not any dent was formed and, if any, the number of dents were then visually checked and recorded as shown below.

⊙: None of the 100 pieces had any dent. ◯: One to five of the 100 pieces had a dent or dents. x: Six or more of the 100 pieced had a dent or dents.

Durability

The sample was cut into 420 mm long×320 mm wide pieces. The sample pieces were bonded to both sides of a 0.7 mm-thick alkali-free glass plate (1737 manufactured by Corning Incorporated) in the crossed Nicols arrangement with a laminator. The sample pieces were then autoclaved at 50° C. and 5 atm for 15 minutes so that they were completely bonded to the alkali-free glass plate. After this process, the sample pieces were stored for 500 hours at 80° C., 90° C., 100° C., or 110° C. (under dry conditions at each temperature), or at 60° C./90% RH or 80° C./90% RH, and then foaming, peeling or separation was visually evaluated according to the criteria below.

⊙: Neither foaming, peeling, nor separation was observed. ◯: Foaming (with a maximum size of less than 100 μm) was slightly observed with no effect on visibility. Δ: There were lots of foams (with a maximum size of less than 100 μm) with no effect on visibility. x: Foaming (with a maximum size of 100 μm or more) or peeling was observed.

Measurement of Light Leakage

The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer obtained in each of the Examples and the Comparative Examples was transferred and bonded to a 400 mm wide×700 mm long polarizing plate (NPF-SIG5423DU manufactured by Nitto Denko Corporation) to form a pressure-sensitive adhesive-carrying polarizing plate A (in which the absorption axis was parallel to the long side of the polarizing plate). The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer obtained in each of the examples and the comparative examples was also transferred and bonded to a 700 mm long×400 mm wide polarizing plate (NPF-SIG5423DU manufactured by Nitto Denko Corporation) to form a pressure-sensitive adhesive-carrying polarizing plate B (in which the absorption axis was parallel to the short side of the polarizing plate). The polarizing plates A and B were bonded to both sides of a 0.7 mm-thick alkali-free glass plate in the crossed Nicols arrangement and then autoclaved at 50° C. and 5 atm for 15 minutes so that they were completely bonded to the alkali-free glass plate. The resulting sample was stored at 80° C. for 500 hours and then placed on a 10,000 candela backlight. The light leakage from the sample was visually checked according to the criteria below.

⊙: No light leakage was observed, and there was no practical problem. ◯: Light leakage was slightly observed, but there was no practical problem. Δ: Light leakage was observed, but there was no practical problem. x: Light leakage was significantly observed, and there was a practical problem.

Method for Evaluation of Pot Life

The acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive solution obtained in each of the Examples and the Comparative Examples was allowed to stand at a temperature of 23° C. and a humidity of 65% RH, while time was checked from the preparation of the acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive solution to the development of an increase in its viscosity. The check was made after each sample was allowed to stand at a temperature of 23° C. and a humidity of 65% RH for 6, 9, or 12 hours.

⊙: No increase in viscosity was observed after 12 hours, and there was no practical problem. ◯: An increase in viscosity was observed after 12 hours, but there was no practical problem. Δ: An increase in viscosity was observed after 9 hours, but there was no practical problem. x: An increase in viscosity was observed after 6 hours, and there was a practical problem.

Monomer Components Nitrogen- Containing Monomer Carboxyl Weight Aromatic Other Than Group- Average Ring- Tertiary Amino Tertiary Amino Con- Hydroxyl Molec- Degree Alkyl Containing Group-Containing Group-Containing taining Group-Containing ular of Re- (Meth)acrylate monomer Monomer Monomer Monomer Monomer Weight Dis- frac- BA PEA BZA DMAEA DMAPAA AAM ACMO AA 4HBA 2HEA (×10⁴) persion tive (parts) (parts) (parts) (parts) (parts) (parts) (parts) (parts) (parts) (parts) M_(w) M_(w)/M_(n) Index Production 73.1 26.0 0.1 — — — 0.3 0.5 — 251 2.89 1.490 Example 1 Production 73.0 26.0 0.3 0.3 0.5 222 3.01 1.490 Example 2 Production 72.8 26.0 0.5 0.3 0.5 197 3.22 1.490 Example 3 Production 73.1 26.0 0.1 0.3 0.5 241 2.99 1.490 Example 4 Production 72.4 26.0 0.1 1.0 0.5 239 3.02 1.490 Example 5 Production 72.6 26.0 0.1 0.3 1.0 228 3.33 1.490 Example 6 Production 71.9 26.0 0.1 1.0 1.0 230 3.40 1.490 Example 7 Production 73.1 26.0 0.1 0.3 0.5 212 3.55 1.490 Example 8 Production 68.6 26.0 0.5 3.0 2.0 201 3.89 1.490 Example 9 Production 73.1 26.0 0.1 0.3 0.5 165 4.01 1.490 Example 10 Production 73.1 26.0 0.1 0.3 0.5 297 3.09 1.490 Example 11 Production 73.1 26.0 0.1 0.3 0.5 169 13.10 1.490 Example 12 Production 89.1 10.0 0.1 0.3 0.5 237 2.99 1.474 Example 13 Production 79.1 10.0 10.0 0.1 0.3 0.5 232 3.22 1.485 Example 14 Production 64.1 19.0 16.0 0.1 0.3 0.5 212 3.89 1.498 Example 15 Production 66.1 33.0 0.1 0.3 0.5 215 4.01 1.498 Example 16 Production 99.1 0.1 0.3 0.5 208 3.03 1.468 Example 17 Production 44.1 55.0 0.1 0.3 0.5 219 3.54 1.518 Example 18 Production 73.0 26.0 1.0 234 3.20 1.490 Example 19 Production 73.2 26.0 0.3 0.5 239 2.87 1.490 Example 20 Production 73.4 26.0 0.1 0.5 249 2.97 1.490 Example 21 Production 72.2 26.0 1.0 0.3 0.5 207 3.77 1.490 Example 22 Production 97.0 2.5 0.5 120 20.40 1.469 Example 23 Production 59.4 19.0 18.0 0.1 3.5 121 28.80 1.499 Example 24 Production 66.0 26.0 5.0 2.9 0.1 265 3.04 1.491 Example 25 Production 73.0 26.0 0.05 1.0 221 2.55 1.490 Example 26 In Table 1, BA represents butyl acrylate, DMAEA N,N-dimethylaminoethyl acrylate, DMAPAA N,N-dimethylaminopropylacrylamide, ACMO N-acryloylmorpholine, AAM acrylamide, AA acrylic acid, 4HBA 4-hydroxybutyl acrylate, 2HEA 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, PEA phenoxyethyl acrylate, and BZA benzyl acrylate.

In Table 1, BA represents butyl acrylate, DMAEA N,N-dimethylaminoethyl acrylate, DMAPAA N,N-dimethylaminopropylacrylamide, ACMO N-acryloylmorpholine, AAM acrylamide, AA acrylic acid, 4HBA 4-hydroxybutyl acrylate, 2HEA 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, PEA phenoxyethyl acrylate, and BZA benzyl acrylate.

Type and Amount Amount (parts) of (parts) Type and Isocyanate of Amount (parts) Acrylic Cross-linking Peroxide of Silane Polymer Agent Nyper BMT40 Coupling Agent Additional Type Type Parts (SV) KBM573 KBM403 KBM5103 A100 Components Example 1 Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 1 Example 2 Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 2 Example 3 Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 3 Example 4 Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 4 Example 5 Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 5 Example 6 Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 6 Example 7 Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 7 Example 8 Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 8 Example 9 Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 9 Example 10 Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 10 Example 11 Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 11 Example 12 Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 12 Example 13 Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 13 Example 14 Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 14 Example 15 Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 15 Example 16 Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 16 Example 17 Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 1 Example 18 Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 1 Example 19 Production D160N 0.10 0.30 0.2 Example 1 Example 20 Production D160N 0.10 0.30 0.2 Example 1 Example 21 Production C/L 0.10 0.30 0.2 Example 1 Example 22 Production C/L 0.10 0.30 0.2 Example 26 Example 23 Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 21 Comparative Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 1 Example 17 Comparative Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 2 Example 18 Comparative Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 3 Example 19 Comparative Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 4 Example 20 Comparative Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 5 Example 22 Comparative Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 6 Example 23 Comparative Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 7 Example 24 Comparative Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 Example 8 Example 25 Comparative Production D160N 0.00 0.40 0.2 *Oligomer Example 9 Example 1 Comparative Production D160N 0.35 0.00 0.2 Example 10 Example 19 Comparative Production D160N 0.00 2.10 0.2 Example 11 Example 1 Comparative Production D160N 2.10 0.00 0.2 Example 12 Example 1 Comparative Production D160N 0.00 0.40 Example 13 Example 1 Evaluations Reworkability (Adhesion) (N/25 mm) After 48 Gel hours at Reworkability Gel Fraction Fraction after Initial 60° C. (Staining) Pot Life Light Leakage after 1 Hour 1 Week Example 1 ⊙ 4.2 ⊙ 7.2 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 83.5 84.2 Example 2 ⊙ 4.5 ⊙ 8.3 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 84.4 84.0 Example 3 ⊙ 5.0 ⊙ 9.1 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 82.2 83.8 Example 4 ⊙ 4.6 ⊙ 7.9 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 80.6 80.9 Example 5 ◯ 7.3 ◯ 11.0 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 83.3 83.9 Example 6 ◯ 7.6 ◯ 10.9 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 81.4 82.2 Example 7 ◯ 8.0 ◯ 11.6 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 84.6 82.9 Example 8 ⊙ 5.2 ◯ 11.2 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 81.9 81.8 Example 9 Δ 8.9 Δ 14.2 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 83.1 83.5 Example 10 ◯ 7.6 ◯ 11.9 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 78.1 79.9 Example 11 ⊙ 3.1 ⊙ 5.2 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 86.5 89.0 Example 12 Δ 9.1 Δ 14.1 Δ ⊙ Δ 79.1 81.1 Example 13 ⊙ 3.9 ⊙ 6.3 ◯ ⊙ ◯ 83.7 84.1 Example 14 ⊙ 4.3 ⊙ 7.6 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 86.3 87.7 Example 15 ⊙ 7.0 ◯ 10.7 ◯ ⊙ Δ 83.7 84.0 Example 16 ⊙ 6.8 ◯ 10.5 ◯ ⊙ ◯ 80.7 82.2 Example 17 ⊙ 5.0 Δ 13.2 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 84.7 88.5 Example 18 ⊙ 4.4 ⊙ 9.1 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 86.5 85.5 Example 19 ⊙ 4.5 ⊙ 7.0 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 82.4 83.1 Example 20 ⊙ 2.9 ⊙ 7.7 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 82.3 85.6 Example 21 ⊙ 5.1 ⊙ 8.9 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 84.4 86.2 Example 22 ⊙ 6.0 ⊙ 8.1 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 84.4 86.2 Example 23 ⊙ 5.8 ⊙ 7.8 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 82.3 84.5 Comparative ⊙ 3.5 ⊙ 5.1 ◯ ⊙ X 81.4 81.7 Example 1 Comparative ◯ 7.7 ◯ 11.6 ◯ ⊙ X 83.2 82.9 Example 2 Comparative ◯ 8.0 X 19.5 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 84.4 83.5 Example 3 Comparative ◯ 7.5 X 16.3 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 85.0 86.2 Example 4 Comparative ◯ 8.3 Δ 14.8 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 88.3 87.3 Example 5 Comparative X 12.5 X 19.8 Δ ⊙ X 80.1 81.4 Example 6 Comparative X 12.1 X 20.1 Δ ⊙ Δ 79.6 80.4 Example 7 Comparative X 13.9 X 25.5 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 85.1 86.3 Example 8 Comparative ⊙ 3.5 X 19.7 X ⊙ Δ 78.5 80.4 Example 9 Comparative ◯ 8.0 X 22.4 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 12.3 80.1 Example 10 Comparative ⊙ 1.9 ⊙ 4.3 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 97.4 98.6 Example 11 Comparative ⊙ 2.9 ⊙ 4.5 ◯ X ⊙ 79.8 94.3 Example 12 Comparative ⊙ 4.4 ⊙ 5.7 ◯ ⊙ ⊙ 82.6 82.5 Example 13 Evaluations Degradation by Process ability Heating Number of Durability at 90° C. Generation Punching 60° C./ 80° C./ for 120 Hours of Dents Quality 80° C. 90° C. 100° C. 110° C. 90% RH 90% RH Example 1 78.2 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ Example 2 80.5 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ Example 3 81.1 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ Example 4 74.5 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ ◯ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ Example 5 82.5 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ Example 6 79.4 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ Example 7 82.0 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ Example 8 73.5 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ ◯ Δ ⊙ ⊙ Example 9 83.0 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ Example 10 72.3 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ◯ ◯ Δ ⊙ ◯ Example 11 84.1 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ◯ Δ Example 12 75.6 ◯ Δ ⊙ Δ Δ X ⊙ Δ Example 13 79.3 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ Example 14 82.5 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ Example 15 80.1 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ Example 16 79.0 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ Example 17 84.3 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ ◯ ◯ ⊙ ◯ Example 18 84.4 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ Example 19 84.3 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ Example 20 88.6 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ Example 21 87.0 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ◯ Example 22 79.2 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ Example 23 79.2 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ◯ Δ Δ ⊙ ◯ Comparative 80.0 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ Example 1 Comparative 80.5 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ Example 2 Comparative 61.5 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ Δ X X ◯ X Example 3 Comparative 68.3 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ◯ ◯ Δ ⊙ ◯ Example 4 Comparative 85.6 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ Example 5 Comparative 23.5 X X ⊙ Δ X X ◯ X Example 6 Comparative 50.9 ◯ X ⊙ Δ X X ◯ X Example 7 Comparative 83.6 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ Example 8 Comparative 76.4 Δ Δ ◯ Δ X X ◯ X Example 9 Comparative 81.1 X X ⊙ Δ X X ◯ X Example 10 Comparative 98.1 ⊙ ◯ Δ X X X X X Example 11 Comparative 95.0 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ Δ X X Δ X Example 12 Comparative 79.2 ⊙ ◯ ⊙ Δ X X X X Example 13

In Table 2, the benzoyl peroxide crosslinking agent is Nyper BMT40 (SV); the isocyanate crosslinking agent is polyol-modified hexamethylene diisocyanate (D160N manufactured by Mitsui Takeda Polyurethane Inc.), polyol-modified hydrogenated xylylene diisocyanate (D120N manufactured by Mitsui Takeda Polyurethane Inc.), polyol-modified isophorone diisocyanate (D140N manufactured by Mitsui Takeda Polyurethane Inc.), trimer type hydrogenated xylylene diisocyanate (D127N manufactured by Mitsui Takeda Polyurethane Inc.), polyol-modified tolylene diisocyanate (C/L manufactured by Nippon Polyurethane Industry Co., Ltd.), or polyol-modified xylylene diisocyanate (D110N manufactured by Mitsui Takeda Polyurethane Inc.); the silane coupling agent is KBM573, KBM403, or KBM5103 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., or A-100 manufactured by Soken Chemical & Engineering Co., Ltd.; and *oligomer as an additional component in Comparative Example 10 is 15 parts of an acrylic oligomer (ARFONUP-1000, 3,000 in weight average molecular weight, manufactured by Toagosei Co., Ltd.). 

1. A pressure-sensitive adhesive composition for an optical film, comprising: a (meth)acrylic polymer comprising (a) 34 to 94% by weight of an alkyl (meth)acrylate monomer unit, (b) 5 to 50% by weight of an aromatic ring-containing (meth)acrylate monomer unit, and (c) 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of an amino group-containing (meth)acrylate monomer unit; 0.01 to 2 parts by weight of a peroxide based on 100 parts by weight of a (meth)acrylic polymer; and 0.01 to 2 parts by weight of a silane coupling agent based on 100 parts by weight of a (meth)acrylic polymer.
 2. The pressure-sensitive adhesive composition according to claim 1, wherein the (meth)acrylic polymer has a weight average molecular weight of 1,600,000 to 3,000,000 as determined by gel permeation chromatography.
 3. The pressure-sensitive adhesive composition according to claim 1, wherein the (meth)acrylic polymer further comprises (d) 0.05 to 2% by weight of a hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate monomer unit and/or (e) 0.05 to 3% by weight of a carboxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate monomer unit.
 4. The pressure-sensitive adhesive composition according to claim 1, further comprising 0.01 to 2 parts by weight of an isocyanate crosslinking agent, based on 100 parts by weight of the (meth)acrylic polymer.
 5. The pressure-sensitive adhesive composition according to claim 1, wherein the (meth)acrylic polymer has a degree of dispersion (Mw/Mn) of 1 to
 10. 6. The pressure-sensitive adhesive composition according to claim 1, wherein the amino group-containing (meth)acrylate is a tertiary amino group-containing (meth)acrylate.
 7. The pressure-sensitive adhesive composition according to claim 1, wherein the aromatic ring-containing (meth)acrylate is at least one selected from the group consisting of phenoxyethyl (meth)acrylate and benzyl (meth)acrylate.
 8. The pressure-sensitive adhesive composition according to claim 7, wherein the phenoxyethyl (meth)acrylate makes up 5 to 20% by weight of all the monomers constituting the (meth)acrylic polymer.
 9. The pressure-sensitive adhesive composition according to claim 1, wherein the silane coupling agent has an acetoacetyl group or an amino group.
 10. A pressure-sensitive adhesive layer for an optical film obtained by forming a coating of the pressure-sensitive adhesive composition according to claim 1 and subjecting the coating to a crosslinking reaction, wherein the coating has a gel fraction of 55 to 95% and a refractive index of less than 1.50 one hour after the formation of the coating.
 11. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer according to claim 10, wherein the coating has a gel fraction of 60 to 95% one week after the formation of the coating.
 12. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer according to claim 11, wherein the coating has a gel fraction of 40 to 95% by weight after standing at 23° C. and 65% RH for one week and then drying at 90° C. for 120 hours, which differs by 20% by weight or less from the gel fraction of the coating after standing at 23° C. and 65% RH for one week.
 13. A pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film, comprising: an optical film; and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer according to claim 10 formed on at least one side of the optical film.
 14. The pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film according to claim 13, wherein it has a holding power (H) of 20 to 350 μm one week after the formation of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer.
 15. The pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film according to claim 14, wherein it shows an adhesive force (F1) of 1 N/25 mm to 10 N/25 mm, when it is peeled at a peel angle of 90° and a peel rate of 300 mm/minute after the steps of making it 25 mm wide, bonding it to an alkali-free glass plate through the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer by one reciprocation of a 2 kg roller, and allowing it to stand at 23° C. for one hour.
 16. The pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film according to claim 15, wherein it shows an adhesive force (F2) of 2 N/25 mm to 15 N/25 mm, when it is peeled at a peel angle of 90° and a peel rate of 300 mm/minute after the steps of making it 25 mm wide, bonding it to an alkali-free glass plate through the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer by one reciprocation of a 2 kg roller, and allowing it to stand at 23° C. for one hour and then dried at 60° C. for 48 hours.
 17. An image display, comprising at least one piece of the pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film according to claim
 13. 